We Don’t Prioritise Leniency For Terrorists Over Justice For Victims-DHQ

The Defence Headquarters has denied reports alleging that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is prioritizing leniency for terrorists over justice for victims of terrorism.

The Director Defence Information Major General Samaila Uba, gave the rebuttal while responding to social media reports on remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede regarding Operation Safe Corridor.

The report accused the military of neglecting terrorists victims while the perpetrators are rehabilitated back into the society.

He, however, described such claims as
deliberate distortion of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede’s remarks regarding Operation SAFE CORRIDOR.

According to him, the social media posts selectively amplified certain phrases while ignoring the full context, falsely suggesting that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are prioritizing leniency for terrorists over justice for victims.

“This portrayal is not only inaccurate but also undermines ongoing national security efforts,” he said.

He explained that Operation SAFE CORRIDOR is not an amnesty programme but a carefully structured deradicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration initiative targeted strictly at surrendered, screened and low-risk former combatants.

He added that the programme forms part of a broader counter-insurgency strategy combining kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

“Evidence shows that hundreds of individuals have passed through this process since inception, contributing to intelligence gathering and weakening insurgent structures.”

He narrated further that the comments by the CDS were made within the context of a professional military doctrine lecture, emphasizing the importance of multi-dimensional conflict resolution.

“His remarks highlighted global best practices where rehabilitation complements battlefield successes, not replaces them. Any attempt to frame these remarks as sympathy for terrorists is a gross misinterpretation.”

General Uba reiterated that the Nigerian Armed Forces remain committed to neutralizing active terrorists and protecting law-abiding citizens.

“The same leadership of the Armed Forces being misrepresented continues to direct aggressive operations across various theatres of conflict. Operation SAFE CORRIDOR simply addresses a different category of individuals; those who have voluntarily disengaged and met strict profiling criteria.”

He stressed that strategic communication in modern warfare recognizes the importance of de-radicalisation as a tool to reduce recruitment pipelines and break cycles of violence.

“The selective framing seen in the viral post ignores this critical dimension and instead promotes a simplistic and misleading narrative.”

He, therefore, urged the public to disregard sensational and out-of-context interpretations of official statements and rely on verified channels for accurate information on military operations.

He further called on citizens to support ongoing military efforts aimed at restoring lasting peace and security across the country.